Vascular valve with removable support component

Abstract

Described are vascular valve devices having valve elements formed of flexible material and at least one removable frame element. Also described are methods for using such devices in the vascular system and in particular in the venous system to treat venous insufficiency.

1. A vascular valve device, comprising:
 an artificial valve for deployment within a vascular passage, the artificial valve including flexible material and at least two frame elements; 
 said frame elements adapted for removal after deployment of said artificial valve in the vessel; and 
 said artificial valve device configured to provide a valve function after removal of said frame elements. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame elements are attached to one another during deployment of the artificial valve device. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame elements are unattached to one another during deployment of the artificial valve device. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said frame elements each include a member extending longitudinally along and circumferentially around the vascular passage after deployment and before removal. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said artificial valve device comprises barbs for attaching to a wall of the vessel. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is a remodelable material. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is collagenous. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material comprises an extracellular matrix material. 
     
     
       9. A vascular valve device, comprising:
 an artificial valve for deployment within a vascular passage, the artificial valve including flexible material and at least one frame element coated with an antiproliferative composition; 
 said frame element adapted for removal after deployment of said artificial valve in the vessel; and 
 said artificial valve device configured to provide a valve function after removal of said frame element. 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises paclitaxel. 
     
     
       11. A vascular valve device, comprising:
 an artificial valve for deployment within a vascular passage, the artificial valve including flexible material, at least one removable frame element and at least one non-removable frame element; 
 said removable frame element adapted for removal after deployment of said artificial valve in the vessel; and 
 said artificial valve device configured to provide a valve function after removal of said removable frame element. 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein said non-removable frame element is biodegradable. 
     
     
       13. A vascular valve device, comprising:
 an artificial valve for deployment within a vascular passage, the artificial valve including flexible material and at least one frame element; 
 said frame element adapted for removal after deployment of said artificial valve in the vessel, wherein said at least one frame element comprises a retrieval element adapted to reside away from a wall of said passage upon deployment of said device in said passage; and 
 said artificial valve device configured to provide a valve function after removal of said frame element. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein said retrieval element comprises a hook or loop. 
     
     
       15. A method for providing a valve device in a vascular passage, comprising:
 deploying within said passage an artificial valve device including a flexible material and at least two frame elements removable after said deploying; and 
 removing said frame elements so as to leave said artificial valve device within said vascular passage absent said frame elements, wherein said removing includes removing each of said frame elements. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two frame elements comprise an antiproliferative composition. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises paclitaxel. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two frame elements are removed after the artificial vascular device has become attached to the vascular passage. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said flexible material is a remodelable material. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein said remodelable material is collagenous. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein said collagenous remodelable material is an extracellular matrix material.